Tuba Blog

Kar Češ Brass Band - On Streets since 1998

2011-03-16T13:01:00.006+01:00

A few captured moments of Kar Ces Brass Band in action. From Slovenia and abroad...

Two background pieces were recorded LIVE at the Bar Gabrijel's 15th anniversary party - 23rd December 2010!
Trombone solo: Matija Mlakar
Tuba solo: Rok Sinkovec
Trombone (Brooklyn): Marko Obid
Our legendary-epic sound engineer was Edi Božic.

Pieces originally played by:
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - My Feet Can't Fail me Now
Youngblood Brass Band - Brooklyn

Please share this on Facebook, Twitter,...

Ana Desetnica 2010

2010-11-12T14:53:00.004+01:00

At Trnfest 2010

2010-08-29T14:51:00.002+02:00

Photo by Petra Marinko

Please join our fb group!

2010-08-24T12:29:00.003+02:00

Kar Češ Brass Band - Facebook group
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16978513154

KCBB - Remember When (with bass guitar)

2010-08-20T17:12:00.004+02:00

From KCBB 10 years anniversary (15/08/2009):

Jani Kovačič and Kar Češ Brass Band

2010-07-13T16:02:00.008+02:00

At Lent Festival - JazzLent, Maribor, 10.7.2010

Jani - solo

Mare - trombone

Brass band - in center

Devil - tuba wings case

AAaaa!

2010-06-17T23:15:00.003+02:00

I just met and had a lesson with my NR.1 tuba player in universe!! Now I can die... :D

Summer 2010 plans

2010-05-31T23:10:00.006+02:00

Simfonika symphony orchestra - Črni Vrh nad Idrijo - 12.6.2010
GDRI Wind Band - Idrija - 20.6.2010
The Sexual Band - Nova Gorica - 25.6.2010
KCBB & Jani Kovacic - Ljubljana, Presernov Trg - 26.6.2010
Brass Quintet - private - 3.7.2010
KCBB - Ana Desetnica Ljubljana - 4.7.2010
KCBB & Mandolina - Bled - 5.7.2010
KCBB & Jani Kovacic - Bled - 9.7.2010
KCBB - Maribor Lent - 10.7.2010
GDRI Wind Band - Ljubljana private - 11.7.2010
KCBB New Orleans night - Bled - 16.7.2010
Break - 19.7. - 22.8.
KCBB - Trn Fest - 24.8.2010
KCBB - LJ (Mesarski most) - 25.7.2010, 20:00
KCBB - Čadrg - 27.7.2010
KCBB - Idrijske Krnice - 28.7.2010

Kino Šiška Concert

2010-01-17T15:21:00.007+01:00

Date: 21/01/2010, 21:00
Bands: Foltin (MK), East Rodeo (CR/I), Kar Češ Brass Band (SLO)
Location: Kino Šiška, Katedrala

Price: 8 EUR / 10 EUR
-----------------------------------------------

The line-up of the night will be completed by the Cerkno-based band Kar Češ Brass Band, evoking youthfully the spirit of New Orleans, combining it with street jazz and the innovation of contemporary orchestras, just like the famous Youngblood Brass Band.

More: http://www.kinosiska.si/
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=254221458542&ref=mf

What instrument to play?

2009-10-26T13:33:00.005+01:00

Many people ask me, what musical instrument do I suggest for them or for their children! Well, these are my very favorites (besides tuba, of course;)!

Brass:
Trombone

Wind:
Bassoon

Strings:
Violoncello

Percussion:
Clash Cymbals

Keyboards:
Organ

...

Piece for your low brass section - ensemble!

2009-10-26T12:56:00.009+01:00

Hey there again! This piece I'm offering you (4 free), is perfect one to learn your band colleagues how to work (specially) on intonation, dynamics and tone production! Or perhaps even the most important thing. To listen each other! If you would like to play this piece, please contact me through email for PDF parts! (1st, 2nd Euphonium, Trombone, 1st, 2nd Tuba)

Download my MIDI here!!!!!

Uspavanka Za Evo, Andrej Šifrer, arr. Rok Šinkovec

Kar Češ Brass Band - Brooklyn, Live in Idrija

2009-09-03T00:52:00.003+02:00

Kar Češ Brass Band playing Brooklyn, originally from Youngblood Brass Band. Recorded in Idrija, Slovenia on 9th July 2009, by Zdravko Kobal and Ivan Menart, Sound by Edi Božič. This year this band is celebrating their 10 years. This was the concert for JSKD Idrija "Četrtki na placu". Piece written by Nat Mcintosh. Enjoy!

Me at KCBB 10th anniversary

2009-08-20T23:13:00.003+02:00

Photo by Joze Sveticic

Fingers on rotary valves

2009-08-18T16:15:00.003+02:00

Photo by Daphne L. Cornelissen

Near concerts

2009-08-11T12:04:00.004+02:00

Kar Češ Brass Band (Cerkno)
with guests / band's 10th anniversary

Saturday 15th avgust exactly at 9:00 p.m. free entrance!
"old square" in front of the fountain - Cerkno

guests:
Vocal group Lira
Sandi Matjašič saxophone
Aleš Valentinčič – Brdonč guitar
Matija Mlakar trombone
Ana Mlakar flute
Erik Jermol trumpet

Blistering “Brass and Reed Band” from Cerkno is being active for ten years. They have built a wide repertoire, firstly reinterpreting also Balkan music, but lately concentrating solely to the hot New Orleans groove, as played by Dirty Dozen Brass Band or Rebirth Brass Band. Kar Češ Brass Band (literary meaning " whatever you want brass band " ), that also played at this year Druga godba festival, have prepared a special celebration of its tenth birthday. Its firework-like explosive sound will be boosted even more by a string of numerous guest musicians.

free entrance!

Kindly invited!
...........................................

Kar Češ Brass Band (Cerkno)
Umbria Jazz Balcanic Windows, Serbia

Festival Umbria Jazz Balkanic Windows i ove godine će biti održan poslednjeg vikenda u avgustu, 28. i 29., na pozornici ispred Muzeja „25. maj“ u Beogradu i u Dunavskoj ulici u Novom Sadu.
....................

The Sexual Band (Idrija), in Bukovica

Tomorrow...

2009-08-02T23:06:00.002+02:00

Po jutru se dan pozna! (Slovenian proverb)

UPOL Brass recordings

2009-06-24T12:02:00.003+02:00

You can listen our recordings here! Enjoy!

UPOL Brass / Bach/Gounod - Ave Maria
UPOL Brass / Pachelbel - Canon
UPOL Brass / Bach - Contrapunctus IX
UPOL Brass / Kevin Paul - Evening Song
UPOL Brass / funeral song - Lipa Zelenela Je
UPOL Brass / Mendelson - Porocna Koracnica (If you would like to have us at the wedding, call us)
UPOL Brass / Holst - Second Suite in F
UPOL Brass / Bach - Sheep May Safely Graze
UPOL Brass / Haendel - Water Music

You can find us also on Facebook! Click here!

UPOL Brass photos

2009-06-22T23:12:00.008+02:00

Photos by Jani Peternelj

Become our fan at Facebook! (And listen some clips there!)

In next blog post: UPOL Brass recordings

KCBB and Serbia

2009-06-18T00:19:00.009+02:00

Kar Ces Brass Band will take place at Umbria Jazz Balkanic Windows Festival 2009 in Belgrade and in Novi Sad. We won selection competition last week among 30 bands. The dates are: 12.8.09 Belgrade, 28.8.09 Novi Sad. Here are some photos from competition in Belgrade...

Burek...

We also played at Belgrade TV.

Kar Ces Brass Band - Druga godba festival

2009-06-07T17:57:00.005+02:00

Our photos from famous Slovenian music festival!

Photos by Joze Sveticic
More at karces.com

Results from Slovenian wind band competition

2009-06-07T12:52:00.001+02:00

Results from top category:

Tuba player image

2009-06-07T10:47:00.004+02:00

Photo by Tomaz Markic

UPOL Brass

2009-05-28T19:14:00.006+02:00

UPOL Brass (quintet) officially started with playing!

UPOL Brass is newly formed brass quintet, which is part of University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana (UPOL). UPOL Brass is formed of five young and talented students of music, who comes from all parts of Slovenia. Their repertoire consists from all kind of genres, they prefer playing baroque and modern music. They play at independent concerts, exhibitions, festal receptions, music seminars, weddings...
Their repertoire list is still incomplete, thanks for your understanding.

Upol Brass je na novo ustanovljeni trobilni kvintet, ki deluje pod okriljem Univerzitetnega Pihalnega Orkesta Ljubljana (UPOL-a). Kvintet je sestavljen iz petih mladih študentov glasbe, ki prihajajo z različnih koncev Slovenije. Njihov repertoar obsega najrazličnejše zvrsti, najrajši pa se spogledujejo z baročno in moderno glasbo. Igrajo na samostojnih koncertih, otvoritvah razstav, slavnostnih sprejemih, glasbenih seminarjih, porokah,...
Njihov seznam repertoarja je še nepopoln, prosimo za razumevanje.

Gregor Turk – 1st Trumpet
Domen Gracej – 2nd Trumpet
Miha Hafner – Horn
Ziga Barba – Trombone
Rok Sinkovec – Tuba

Playing in European Parliament

2009-05-09T16:26:00.005+02:00

European Parliament - Strasbourg, France

Programme 4th May, 2009:
19:45 - CONCERT (first part): University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana (UPOL)

(conductor: Simon Perčič)

- "Zdravljica" - Slovenian anthem, arr. L. Kranjčan

- "Pozdrav iz Slovenije" - Bojan Adamič

- "Candide Suite: Auto-da-fe, Glitter and Be Gay, Make Our Garden Grow" - L. Bernstein, arr. C. Grundman

- "Fanfare and Funk" - Oliver Waespi
20:00 - SPEACHES:

- Welcoming address: Lojze Peterle MEP (EPP-ED), Former Prime Minister of Slovenia

- Festal speaker: Jan Figel, Member of the European Commission in charge of Education, Training, Culture and Youth (TBC)

20:10 - CONCERT (second part): University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana:

- "Libertango" - A. Piazzolla, arr. M. Etchegoncelay

- "Kolko kapljic"- Sl.folksong, arr: L. Kranjčan

- "La cumparsita" - G. M. Rodríguez, arr. M. Etchegoncelay

- "Stu ledi" – folksong from Triest, arr. J. Dovč

- "Slovenski pozdravi" - V. & S. Avsenik

Tim Reynish quote!

2009-01-12T22:59:00.003+01:00

There is just too much of everything!

Tim Reynish, speaking about dynamic at Canford SSM

Fresh brass music released!

2008-12-29T12:51:00.005+01:00

Check our new songs! Recorded just a month ago!

KAR CES BRASS BAND
1. Sanja Samba (Boban Marković)
2. Disco Jumbus (Boban Marković)
3. Round one (Nat Mcintosh)
4. Brooklyn (Nat Mcintosh)
5. Get out da way (Youngblood Brass Band)

I was recording with my YBB-841.

Here are also some photos from the studio! Hope you'll enjoy our music!

Friedrich Gulda: Concerto for cello and wind ensemble

2008-12-11T01:32:00.002+01:00

Friedrich Gulda: Koncert za violončelo in pihalni orkester from Upol on Vimeo.
Soloist: Igor Mitrovic, Conductor: Simon Percic

UPOL concert photos!

2008-11-30T16:55:00.005+01:00

Check photos from the concert! More photos at http://www.upol.si/en/upol/foto/141-foto-martinov-koncert-17-11-2008

Recording with KCBB!

2008-11-29T22:45:00.003+01:00

In next few days, we will finish making few hits. Kar Ces Brass Band will present you these arrangements:

Brooklyn - YBBB
Get Out The Da Way - YBBB
Round one - YBBB
Disko Jumbus - Boban Marković
Sanja Samba - Boban Marković

Tuba books/solos for music schools!

2008-11-13T14:16:00.004+01:00

Etudes:

1. Tyrrell - 40 Advanced Etudes for B-flat Bass - (Boosey & Hawkes) - http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

2. Arbans, edited by Wes Jacobs
3. Concone, edited by Wes Jacobs
4. Grigoriev - etudes volume 1 and 2
5. Bordogni - Vocalises for tuba

2-5 avalible at http://www.encoremupub.com/

6. Snedecor - Low Etudes for tuba - http://www.baltimorebrass.net
+60 etudes from Kopprasch
_____________________________________________________

Pieces with piano:

7. Sparke - Tuba concerto (Anglo music) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
8. Gregson - Tuba concerto (Novello & Co Ltd) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
9. Ralph V. Williams - Concerto In F Minor For Bass Tuba And Orchestra (Oxford University Press) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

10. James Barnes - Concerto For Tuba (Southern Music Company) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

11. Bruce Broughton - Concerto for Tuba and Winds (Edwin F. Kalmus) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

12. Paul Hindemith - Sonata for Bass Tuba (1955) (Schott) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
13. Halsey Stevens - Sonatina (Peermusic Classical) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
14. Broughton - Sonata (Masters Music Publications) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
15. McFarland - Sketches (Tritone Press & Tenuto Publications) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

16. Haddad - Suite for Tuba (Shawnee Press) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
17. Vincent Persichetti - Serenade No. 12 (Theodore Presser Company) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

18. Hartley - Suite for Unaccompanied tuba (Theodore Presser Company) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

19. Koetsier - Sonatina (Editions Marc Reift) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
20. DeFaye - Suite Marine (Alphonse Leduc) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
21. Bach - Air and Bourree (Carl Fischer) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
22. Stevens - Journey (Robert king music) http://www.rkingmusic.com
23. Ewazen - Concerto (Southern Music Company) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
24. Jager - Concerto for bass tuba (Marks) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
25. William Presser - Concerto for Tuba and Strings (Tritone Press&Tenuto Publications) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
26. Samuel Jones - Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra (Carl Fischer) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/
27. Eugene Anderson - Tuba Concerto No. 1 in B Minor (Cimarron Music Press) http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/

Joy!

2008-10-27T03:56:00.002+01:00

Some people are still OK! Can't u hear??

Concert for Rotary Club Idrija

2008-10-25T13:18:00.007+02:00

Tonight I'm playing with Wind band Idrija for Rotary Club Idrija. Concert will happen in Idrija at 19:00 at new gymnasium at Gimnazija J. Vege.

Soloists:

-Aleš Hadalin

-Andreja Štucin

-Miro Božič

-Marko Hatlak

Leader of programme: Helena Pregelj Tušar

Facebook Event

UPOL-ova svirel 2009 - Competition

2008-10-24T14:24:00.005+02:00

The University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana (UPOL) invites you to participate at the International Wind, Brass and Percussion Soloist Competititon UPOL-ova svirel at the Štanjel castle, 14th, 15th, and 16th February 2009.

Why participate at the UPOL-ova svirel competition?-Because it promotes solo performers as well as orchestral performance.
-Because you will be examined by an international jury composed by renowned international musicians.
-Because the winner of the competition receives an art sculpture - "UPOL-ova zlata svirel" and sponsor Award, but also other attracting prizes will be awarded.

Some passages from the competition regulation:
Sections: flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium (baritone), tuba, percussions (drum-set, xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone).
All the other versions of the primary instruments (for example piccolo, Es clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, tuba in Es, B, F etc.) are also allowed.
All competitors will present a programme of their own choice but it has to contain an orchestra part (or more parts) from the repertoire of wind and symphonic orchestras.

The registration fee is 60 EUR.
The registration to the competition includes also a free participation at a one-day seminar (16th February 2009) that will be held by internationally renowned musicians:

Aleš Kacjan – flute (Slovenia),
Antonello Mazzucco – trombone, low brass (Italy),
Nebojša Jovan Živković – percussions (Germany).

The attendance at the percussion seminar is limited only to competitors.

The application fee for the flute and low brass seminar for non-competitors is 30 EUR.

The attendance of teachers at the seminar will probably bring points for advancement.

To register and to find more information please contact the following addresses Competition svirél and upolova.svirel@gmail.com

More at www.upol.si

Wind Orchestra of Latin America

2008-10-24T14:05:00.005+02:00

Orquesta Latinoamericana de Vientos, OLV 2009
May 30 - Jun, 2009
Manizalez, Colombia

The Wind Orchestra of Latin America (OLV) is a prestigious symphonic band of 60 instrumentalists of the highest musical level along with two young directors selected from all Latin American. The Wind orchestra will be an annual event with the first appearance of honor during the 15th Yamaha International Seminar of Bands June 3 – 5, 2009 in Manizalez, Colombia with the support of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). The OLV will be convened between May 30 and June 6, 2009 for rehearsals and musical development.

The call for the instrumentalists is directed to musicians between 17 and 24 years of age and for conductors and directors between 20 and 30 years as of June 3, 2009. The OLV is open for all musicians from all countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

In order to audition, each applicant must send a recording (mp3, WAV or video preferably on YouTube) that contains the required compositions which demonstrates his/her technical and interpretive level.

Every applicant must send by e-mail to juan_ramirez@gmx.yamaha.com the recordings and/or the link of the YouTube video of the required repertoire. Alternatively, applicants may send a DVD to the following address: Yamaha Music Latin America, S.A., Post office address (mailing address) 0823-05863, City of Panama, Republic of Panama.

The results of the auditions will be published on February 1, 2009 on www.yamaha-ve.com and in the online group OLV - 2009 in Facebook.

The Artistic Director: Glenn Price: President, World association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE)

Application:
The registration for successful applicants is 100 US Dollars. This
amount covers local transportation, hotel (rooms of multiple
accommodation), and all meals from dinner on May 30, 2009 until
breakfast on June 6, 2009. Each person accepted will be responsible for
transportation to and from Manizales from his/her location or origin.

Benefits for OLV Members:
·Musical development and performances at the artistic highest level working with internationally distinguished conductors and soloists.
·Certificate of participation.
·Recognition in the Concert printed program and in other publicity provided by Yamaha Latin America and WASBE.
·Players of woodwind instruments will receive an endowment of González cane reeds for the event.
·An attractive shirt, T-shirt and cap all with the logo of OLV - 2009.
·A discount of 10 – 15 % to purchase Yamaha musical instruments, mouthpieces, accessories, cleaning kits and lubricants in Authorized local distributors.

Timetable:
2008:
December 31 - Deadline for applications with required recordings, videos and prescribed documents, preferably sent via electronic mail.
2009:
February 1 - Publication of the results in www.yamaha-ve.com and in Facebook.com.
March 17 - Deadline of payment of all required fees. The applicants that have not met this requirement will lose the right to participate and his place there will join the instrumentalists who are a waiting list. In no case there will be refund of registration fees. The repertoire that will be interpreted will be sent at a later date via email.
For not Colombian admitted assistants they will have to send his electronic ticket expressed until May 1 otherwise they will lose right to participate. There will not be in any case return of money and reservations of flights will not be accepted.

Decision by the jury is final and not open to appeal.

Musical materials required for audition:
The obligatory repertoire for every instrument must contain two contrasting works such as:

One Latin American work composed, arranged, and/or adapted for the musical instrument, from two to five minutes duration, with or without accompaniment. An original selection (from two minutes to five minutes duration).

Three scales: The major scale with more than four sharps, a harmonic minor with more than 4 flats, and a chromatic scale. The major and minor scales must be played in two octaves, in rhythm of eighth notes and at a speed of quarter note = 100 beats per minute. The chromatic scale must be for two octaves beginning from the note that the applicant chooses, in rhythm of triplets and at a speed of quarter note = 76. In three scales it is necessary to ascend staccato and to descend legato.

Instruments of the OLV - 2009
Flute and piccolo
Clarinets (Eb, Bb, Alto, Bass)
Oboe and English horn
Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone)
Bassoon
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Euphonium
French Horn
Double bass
Percussion
Tympani

Those applying for the two director/conductor positions must submit:
A proposal of the applicant of four contrasting works to be conducted if they are selected. A video of not less than 10 minutes and not more than 14 minutes of duration of the applicant conducting segments – in the case that the works exceed the time the video – of two of these works.

Major reports: juan_ramirez@gmx.yamaha.com

Event summoned and realized for: Yamaha Music Latin America, S.A.,
Musical Yamaha of Venezuela and Argentina
Incolmotos – Yamaha, S.A of Colombia
El Programa de Bandas Estudiantiles de Música del Departamento de
Caldas, Colombia

Institutions and persons who support OLV – 2009:
Maestros: Glenn Price (Canadá), Luis Julio Toro and Miguel Rugtiliano (Venezuela), Jorge Cerda y Carlos Uribe (Chile), Nixon Bustos and Victoriano Valencia (Colombia), Marcelo Jardim (Brasil).

Institutions and musical groups:
Proyecto Sopro Novo - Yamaha Musical Do Brasil
University of Calgary, Canada
University of Wisconsin – Superior, United States of America.
Corporacion Concurso Nacional de Bandas Musicales de Colombia,
CORBANDAS - Colombia
Cuarteto de Clarinetes de Caracas.- Venezuela
Son Sax de Costa Rica
Festival de Saxofones de Buenos Aires
Cuarteto Phoenix de Fagotes de Costa Rica
Universidad de Costa Rica
Banda Sinfónica de Filosofía de Buenos Aires Argentina

Musical industry:
Ludwig Master Publications – United States
Score Musical - Colombia
Commerce specializing in music:
González Reeds– Argentina.
Magno – Guatemala
Bansbach, Musical Instruments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Productos Superiores – Supro, Panamá.
Almacenes Juan Eljuri - Ecuador
Music Market - Perú
Micheo Music – Puerto Rico
Fernando Giraldez – República Dominicana.
South American Wind instruments technitians Network - Yamaha

Major reports: juan_ramirez@gmx.yamaha.com

Juan Guillermo Ramirez Y.
Gerente de Ventas y Mercadeo
Yamaha Music Latin America, S.A

Brooklyn and Get Out Da Way

2008-09-22T08:53:00.005+02:00

We (Kar Ces Brass Band) played in Postojna at festival Zmaj ma mlade on 27/08/08. Here we play two great hits, originally from Youngblood Brass Band. A little off tuned because of weird weather conditions, otherwise not bad concert...

Joke Nr.1!

2008-09-03T19:33:00.001+02:00

http://view.break.com/499528 - Watch more free videos

Summer 2008 overview!

2008-08-26T19:17:00.009+02:00

Here are some photos of great people I worked this summer (PL, UK, SLO)! I am still waiting for photos from SFK Symphony Orchestra!!

Me and Zoltan Kiss from Mnozil Brass!

Me and Paul Krzywicki from Philadelphia Symphony!

Jason Koi (currently he is in final audition for Singapore Symphony) with a student!

Tim Reynish! Conductor!! Forte is a light dynamic!

Kenneth Hanlon, president of Trombone international assosiation!

Mark Heron, amazing conductor and tuba player!

Phillip Scott, one amazing conductor and great man!!

Canford Summer School of Music photos

2008-08-13T16:26:00.003+02:00

Here are few photos from my friend Richard Horn, uploaded at Facebook.

Being at Canford Summer School of Music (Sherborne)

2008-08-08T13:01:00.003+02:00

I am still at the great summer school in England, UK. My conductors at Symphonic Wind Orchestra are Phillip Scott, Timothy Reynish and Mark Heron. We are playing a lot of new great repertoire! More when I come back home.

http://www.canfordsummerschool.co.uk/

Żywieckie suwakowanie

2008-07-20T12:36:00.005+02:00

Photos from low brass camp in Poland! It was great experience! Photos by Mateusz Lupinski.

Mateusz and me!

Huge low brass ensemble!

Tuba ensemble!

Playing in church!

Mateusz with great guys/organizators Maciej Pietraszko and Anna Klimala-Pietraszko!

Being in Zywiec, Poland

2008-07-14T13:08:00.002+02:00

I am in Zywiec where was quite a huge low brass festival. I had masterclasses with famous musicians like Jason Koi, Paul Krzywicki, Kenneth Hanlon,... More next time!

Marezijazz 2008

2008-06-26T11:37:00.003+02:00

Everyone invited to "Marezijazz" big band festival to Marezige (near Koper)!

Festival repertoire, 4.7.08:

20.00 - 20.45: nastop skupine Kar češ Brass Band
21.00 - 21.45: nastop Big Banda Hrošči
22.00 - 22.45: nastop Big Banda DOM
23.00 - 23.45: Big Banda Cerknica - BBC
24.00 - 01.00: nastop skupine Dej še'n litro
01.00 - 02.00: nastop skupine Amarcord

Entrance free!

Our repertoire (in different order):
You Move Ya Lose (Rebirth BB)
Shake them tities & Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Rebirth BB)
Round One (YBBB)
Brooklyn (YBBB)
Get out of da way (YBBB)
Yimutha (YBBB)
Shake your body down to the ground (Rebirth BB)

Concert with quintet

2008-05-26T15:23:00.004+02:00

I just found a photo from a concert in Slovenian philharmonic building. We played with our quintet of SGBS, Carmen Fantasy (G. Bizet). Sound was recorded too, but I don't know if it is published "already".

GREGOR TURK, trumpet, MATIC BOVHAN, trumpet, MIHA KOZJEK, horn, ERIK PAVUSA, trombone, ROK SINKOVEC, tuba

Please support Royal Swedish Navy Band!

2008-05-22T13:47:00.004+02:00

The Royal Swedish Navy Band is in danger of being discontinued because of financial cutbacks in the Swedish Armed Forces. This outstanding ensemble, formed in 1685, is the last professional military band in Sweden. The band would like to ask for help from WASBE members. You can go to their web site where you will find a simple form with which you can add your name to their support list.

source: Wasbe.com

By now, I am the only one from Slovenia, who signed into support list. I hope for better support from us now (and others of course too). I had signed in about 3 weeks ago. For those who think that it does not exist anymore, I must correct them, that they still exist (they are just in danger!). They were officialy formed in 1685, just 20 years after our Wind band Idrija (1665). So, they are almost the oldest wind band in Europe.

Check out the "JAG theme" preformed by them:

Plenty of tuba seminars in Slovenia

2008-05-04T12:32:00.005+02:00

1. Daniel Perantoni (Trbovlje - cca. 230€ for 3 days)
2. Martin Rex (Koper - cca. 170€ for 4 days)
3. József Bazsinka (Hmm.. I can't find info for him)

If I will be able I will participate at Martin Rex seminar. If you are interested in any of these 3 events, contact me for further info.

Tim Reynish video

2008-03-31T10:37:00.004+02:00

(One of) My favourite specialist for wind bands! He will be one of three conductors at Canford Summer School of Music, which I am going to attend.

More at his web-site

UPOL (student) concert photos!

2008-03-30T22:12:00.002+02:00

Photos by Iztok Zupan

More photos here!

Queen Symphony recordings (UPOL)

2008-03-27T13:27:00.006+01:00

Last year we played a Queen Symphony, writen by Tolga Kashif. Finally, the recordings are published. Please check them!

Yesterday we had also a nice concert with UPOL. Many students came to listen us. I hope we will get few new members.

UPOL (student) concert

2008-03-25T15:42:00.004+01:00

Tommorow (at 19:30) we will have a concert with UPOL for students in Ljubljana (FDV hall).
I special like the arrangment of Nessun dorma (by Ellerby) and first symphony ever written (Military Symphony).

Repertoire:

Military Symphony in F: Francois Joseph Gossec
Waltz: Aram Khachaturian
Nessun dorma: G. Puccini: arr. Martin Ellerby
Queen simfonija: T. Kashif (1st mvt.)
Stars and Stripes Forever: John P. Sousa arr. R. William
Strike up the Band: George Gershwin arr. Peter Kleine Schaars
Slovenec sem: Gustav Ipavec; arr. T. Tomšič
Stani: O. Naber, S. Zvezdić; arr. M. Simić
Rap 4 You: Nejc Bečan

Summer plans...

2008-03-10T19:50:00.010+01:00

This summer I'm probably going to visit two "courses". One will be in UK and the other one in Poland.

Playing in Symphonic Wind Orchestra with many young talents from all over the Europe/world. Very famous conductors like Tim Reynish, Philip Scott and Mark Heron. I received funds from Hidria to cover the expenses for it!! This is the repertoire:

Sallinen - Palace Rhapsody
Roxburgh - Elegy for Ur
Sparke - Dance Movements
Binney - Master Humphrey's Clock (Complete)
Wilby - Laudibus in Sanctis
Bailey - Chasses Musicales
Roxburgh - Aeolian Carillons
Schuller - Nature's Way
Kanchelli - Magnum Ignotum
http://www.canfordsummerschool.co.uk

Żywieckie Suwakowanie
More like masterclass for trombones and tubas. Also playing in huge low brass group. There will be big names like Zoltan Kiss from Mnozil Brass, Paul Krzywicki from Philadelphia Orchestra and many others. I found out for it through my friend from Poland Mateusz Lupinski! He will be there too and maybe even Humberto P. from Spain!!!

http://www.zywieckiesuwakowanie.com/

New profile photo!

2008-03-10T19:09:00.006+01:00

I've added the new photo of me today. I think it is better than previous. The photographer was Robert Zabukovec. His camera is really, really nice... Photo below is commpresed by blogspot, but it is still in very good quality (click). :)

Kidd Jordan's second line LIVE

2008-03-06T18:29:00.004+01:00

About week and a half ago we (KCBB) played at Metelkova - Club Chanell Zero (ch0). I really enjoy playing at clubs with our band. Everything was very good, except there was too little of tuba in the speakers and monitors. I tried to tell that to the "tone master", but nothing helped. I agree, in most cases tuba is just a background instrument, but not at music like for ex. Youngblood Brass Band. I know we would need our own "t. master", but anyway, it happens to many times that t.m. is much smarter than performers. In next video my playing is mostly only background, but imagine the same volume for hit "Brooklyn". Crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpA-Ufa0vh0

First birthday of my Tuba blog!

2008-03-02T00:35:00.009+01:00

Today is exactly one year since my first post. I will spend this post for some of the statistics, achievements and for plans for future!

Why did I start?
Just for fun and joke, but then many people asked me to continue writing this diary...

Basic statistics:
-58 posts
-2000+ visitors

One of the biggest achievements of my blog is certainly the appearance at the home page of one and the only one Timothy Reynish! http://www.timreynish.com/hpdec07.htm

Comments:
-Wey Rok!!
Congratulations for your tuba blog!! It´s amazing to know people who writes very interesting things about what they do.
Thank you very much for your work!!!
Very good.

by Humberto Pailos

-I like very much, too, your tuba blog.
Please keep reminding me of the tuba blog, for there is always something
very interesting on it.

by John Alden Stanley

-Sem pa danes slučajno brskala po internetu in našla tudi tvoj blog! Super je in...

by Helena Tusar

-I was led to remember our negotiations when browsing through a website of Rok Sinkovec, a tuba player who was a member of the International Youth Wind Orchestra in Killarney. His site is full of information on the Slovenian scene, and a reminder of what WASBE achieves in bringing us all together.

by Tim Reynish

-Well, well. Just checked your blog - why didn't you tell me about it earlier? =) Very good. I'll be keeping an eye on it.

by Sonja Bencina

-Oh by the way, I checked out your blog. The videos are amazing! You did a very great job on the Curnow and the band sounds very good too! Inspires me to keep practising my tuba...

by Aaron Yong

Goals:
My intention is to inform the world about the Slovenian music/band scene and to meet even more young (brass) players from all over the world! Help me with that! :)

Concertino for tuba and band

2008-02-16T19:02:00.006+01:00

This was my preformance of James Curnow's Tuba Concertino in December 07 with Wind band Idrija. The recording unfortunatelly isn't very good (weird resonance sound, poor low brass sound, sound is delaying comparing to picture). There was about 1000 people at the concert. Thanks to Alen Bogataj for publishing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQYMM9WpyEE

KCBB - Round one (Originally from Youngblood Brass Band)

2008-02-08T12:49:00.001+01:00

Our band a few months ago in MIKK Murska sobota, Slovenia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXQJSpSq88

Kar Ces Brass Band new video - Ederlezi

2008-01-21T12:16:00.000+01:00

Last year we played with vocal group Lira. It is finally now at youtube. This song is more known as Đurđevdan. Here I play an old helicon tuba. We will play on 2/2/2008 (Slovenian halloween) through the pubs of Cerkno.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4XnWahSCd4

Pust - Slovenian Halloween's day

Videos from Ljubljana University Symphonic Winds concert!

2008-01-19T14:19:00.000+01:00

Check these videos of our UPOL orchestra. We played this concert a few weeks ago. You can find even more clips at youtube.com (search UPOL)! Expect tuba solo video soon too!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z9t71qHbrjs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2UmZxIcXAB4

Private party - "noname" Big Band

2008-01-09T10:39:00.000+01:00

1.1.2008 I went to a private party, to a Slovenian Philharmony, where played a couple of my friends in a "special" Big Band (I didn't play). Rok Kovačič - Fish played percussion, Sebastjan Jermol - Moli played trumpet, Julijan Vidmar - Jule was conductor, Sonja Benčina - em.. Sonja played trombone for a while... It was very nice. Photos are property of Fish. Check other photos at his blog: http://fishmymusic.blogspot.com/

Big Band!

Trombone section

Moli&Fish

Julijan Vidmar (He was my tuba teacher in 2003)

Tibor Kerekeš & his brother (not really)

Me & Samurai from Japan

Couple of nice concerts played in last few days

2007-12-29T13:26:00.000+01:00

First one was on 23/12 with University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana. The guest was Alenka Gotar. She represented Slovenia at Euro vision in Helsinki this year. We played:

The Rossenkavalier: R.Strauss, arr J.Cober*
Henry V.: Patrick Doyle, arr.J de Meij*
Aria from (bachianas Brasileiras No.5): H.Villa-Lobos arr: W.Herbert*
Ich gehor nur mir(Elisabeth-musical):Michael Kunze,arr: S.Felder*
Cvet z juga:Andrej Babić arr: Rok Golob#

* Slovenian premiere
# First performance

Second concert was on 27/12 with Simfonika Vrhnika, conductor Marko Fabiani. We played with violin player Anja Bukovec. We played in Grand hotel Union. The concert was sold out suddenly (about 900 seats). It was a beautiful concert. Guests: Vasilij Meljnikov, Jadranka Juras. Repertoire: Gershwin, Piazzollo, Sarasete, Williams...

http://www.triera.net/novica.php?id=A137341
http://www.anjabukovec.com

Philip Sparke - Tuba concerto

2007-12-28T23:37:00.000+01:00

Domen told me about new Tuba Concerto (2006), written by Philip Sparke (Hanover Festival). I checked about it, but it seems to be a very difficult, but also very great piece. The concerto is available with concert band, brass band or piano accompaniments. Perhaps I will order the piano acc. soon. Check the mp3 samples, to hear amazing piece and performance.

http://www.justmusicuk.com/spweb/details.php?catno=JM46935

Midwest Clinic in Chicago!

2007-12-20T18:00:00.001+01:00

Our conductor (Wind band Idrija) Domen Prezelj, went to the Midwest clinic, to Chicago. Check their great website here: www.midwestclinic.com/ (Check very fresh videos!)

I hope he will bring us some nice music sheet!

Here are two nice photos, from their website!

Three great concerts with Wind band Idrija!

2007-12-19T14:03:00.000+01:00

We had three concert last week with our wind band. On Friday we played a exclusive repertoire for our great sponsor Hidria. It was a little bit different concert than usual. You can check two interesting youtube clips from there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPVutW5zSA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFK8Nk5wuk

Six of young musicians (including me) received some funds for further music studying. Thanks to Hidria again!

On Saturday and Sunday we played at Christmas concert in Sp. Idrija and in Idrija, like every year. Like I described in previous post I played solo, Concertino for tuba and band (James Curnow). On Saturday I played it good (not perfect). I was a little bit nervous and my mouth were dry. On Sunday I played it better and I was really satisfied (happy) with my performance. I am waiting for videos, which I will put on youtube!

Concert invitation for Wind Band Idrija

2007-12-11T15:24:00.001+01:00

Please check out the "Concert invitation" for wind band Idrija (Powerpoint file). It is very beautiful.
I'll be playing a Concertino for tuba and band, composed by James Curnow. It is a beautiful solo.

Link will be here for 1 month:
http://files-upload.com/files/672397/vabilo_na_novoletni_koncert.pps

Hot Slovenian search words: GDRI, Godbeno društvo rudarjev Idrija, pleh, godba, muska, banda

IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT, CONTACT ME TROUGH EMAIL AND I WILL SEND IT TO YOU!!!

Great quote from maestro Markson...

2007-11-08T11:36:00.000+01:00

"Forget about the paper in front of you! You don't need it. The Music... the Music will tell you what she needs. All that black stuff on the page on your stand there- that's her cage. Watch me! We'll set her free.... start at 5..." -Gerhard Markson (IYWO)

Solos for tuba and bands

2007-11-07T17:33:00.000+01:00

This is the list of most famous Tuba concertos:

BARCODE
TITLE
COMPOSER
CATEGORY
GR.
PRICE

616955008437
*Gentle Annie
Foster, Stephen
VOICE OR VARIOUS INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
33
$55.00

685697225655
*Variations for Tuba and Band (The Liberty Song)
Brink, Paul R.
TUBA AND BAND
44
$65.00

LUDWIG20160528
Ave Maria
Schubert, Franz
VARIOUS SOLO INSTRUMENTS SACRED
33
$45.00

654979086307
Children of the World
Barnes/Smith
OPT STRINGS OPT CHORUS VARIOUS SOLO INSTRUM
3+
$60.00

029156012323
Christmas Concerto
Various
CHRISTMAS VARIOUS SOLO
32
$50.00

CLB012243900
Concert Rondo
Mozart, W.A.
HORN, TUBA OR EUPHONIUM
5
$55.00

SHAWNEK0296
Concertino for Tuba and Band
Bencriscutto, Frank
TUBA AND BAND
5
$90.00

073999039450
Concertino for Tuba and Band
Curnow, James
TUBA
55
$94.00

TRIOBO046
Concertino For Tuba And Concert Band
Wilhelm, Rolf
TUBA SOLO AND BAND
55
$120.00

DWICK1211WB0003
Concerto for Bass Tuba and Wind Orchestra
Vaughan Williams, R
TUBA AND BAND
55
$225.00

MASTERC0001
Concerto For Tuba
Ellerby, Martin
TUBA AND BAND
55
$192.00

BANDBC0128
Concerto for Tuba
Hidas, Frigyes
TUBA AND BAND
5
$225.00

9790050027782
Concerto For Tuba
Gregson, Edward
TUBA AND BAND
55
$150.00

THOMEDDC1U
Concerto for Tuba (Orig. Horn) No. 1
Strauss, Richard
TUBA
55
$119.50

MASTERA6712
Concerto For Tuba (Parts)
Broughton, Bruce
TUBA
5
$135.00

798408039844
Concerto for Young Artists and Band
Hilliard, Quincy
AA VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS SOLO
32
$45.00

685697218657
Concerto in F Major (Mvt. 1)
Capuzzi, Antonio
TUBA OR STRING BASS
54
$65.00

REIFTEMR1261
Csardas (C Minor)
Monti
VARIOUS SOLO INSTRUMENTS AND BAND
54
$125.00

MOL03097404
Der Alte Brummbar (The Old Bear With The Sore Head)
Fucik, Julius
TROMBONE/BASSOON/TUBA SOLO
4
$70.00

SHAWNER10187
Elephant, The from Carnival of the Animals
Saint-Saens, Camille
TUBA AND BAND
3
$40.00

073999199727
Fantasia For Tuba And Concert Band
Curnow, James
TUBA
4
$99.00

LUDWIG10160180
Flight of the Bumble Bee
Rimsky/Korsakoff
VARIOUS SOLO INSTR. & BAND
5
$55.00

SHAWNER10216
Four Temperments for Tuba
Brand, Michael
TUBA AND BAND
54
$110.00

RBC10111
Introduction and Dance
Bilik, Jerry
TUBA
54
$50.00

THOMEDDC14U
Le Basque
Marais, Marin
TUBA AND BAND
53
$35.00

LUDWIG20160534
O Holy Night
Adam
VARIOUS SOLO INSTRUMENTS CHRISTMAS
33
$56.00

674398204526
O Mio Babbino Caro
Puccini, Giacomo
TUBA OPERA CLASSICS
44
$50.00

CLB012335000
Old Grumbly Bear
Fucik, Julius
BASSOON BASS CLARINET BARITONE SAX EUPHONIUM TUBA
43
$65.00

CLB012335500
Rondo For Solo And Wind Band
Mozart, W.A.
VARIOUS SOLO INSTRUMENTS
43
$65.00

685697212556
Sonata in Eb Major
Danzi, Franz
HORN OR TUBA AND BAND
43
$55.00

SHAWNEK0381
Suite for Tuba and Band
Haddad, Don
TUBA
54
$80.00

SHAWNER10195
Tapestry For Tuba
Brand, Michael
TUBA
43
$55.00

WIMAV238
Tuba Mirum
Schmidt, William
TUBA AND BAND
5
$80.00

9790051639915
Tuba Rhapsody
Grundman, Clare
TUBA & BAND
54
$115.00

WIMAV270
Tunes for Tuba Solo and Band
Schmidt, William
TUBA AND BAND
5
$70.00

SHAWNEK0335
Variations for Tuba and Winds
Frackenpohl, Arthur
TUBA & BAND
54
$40.00

SMCS537
Variations On A Theme By Robert Schumann
Schumann, Robert
BASSOON/TUBA/BASS CLARINET/EUPHONIUM/BARITONE SAX
43
$60.00

WIMWIM351
Variations On Carnival Of Venice
Arban, Jean Baptiste
TUBA & BAND
5
$58.00

029156989113
Willson Suite
Smith, Robert W.
EUPHONIUM/TUBA/BAND
54
$120.00

Another comment on IYWO concert!

2007-11-07T17:16:00.000+01:00

This one I found at the homepage of Christopher Marshall, composer of great work Resonance! From (The Irish Times, Dublin, July 17, 2007)

Trombone player wanted!

2007-10-25T16:29:00.000+02:00

We (Kar Ces Brass Band) are looking for another trombone player from Slovenia, who could/would play stuff like Youngblood brass band, serbian/gipsy music, new orleans street jazz. Music high school is recommended (because of difficulty). Info: www.karces.com / sinkovec.rok@gmail.com

This weekend we play in Cerkno (Franja), in Tuesday in Murska Sobota (MC). Come to check it out!

Music like below:

If links doesn't work properly, please go to:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=U5TLqG6aRNw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JzRYaQuSZn4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mmsGon2vLew

Plans in next few days...

2007-09-25T22:50:00.000+02:00

Today: instrument lesson, march concert (wind band Idrija), rehearsals

More this week: instrument lessons, rehearsals and recording solo for trombone & wind band (I'm getting sentimental - wind band Idrija), recording video, rehearsals with KCBB, rehearsals with UPOL, High School symphonic orchestra...

Next week: rehearsals and concert UPOL, rehearsals and concert with guys from AG (music academy)- Academic symphonic orchestra, many more rehearsals...
_____________________________

Program for UPOL concert:

A. Reed: Armenian Dances
A. Khachaturian:Waltz
Nad mestom se dani, vozi me vlak: J. Privšek, N. Bečan
D. Amram: En memoria de chano poso
Tolga Kashif: Queen symphony (inserts)

Concert will be on 1/10/2007 at about midday in center of Ljubljana

Another Youngblood BB video!

2007-09-25T22:28:00.000+02:00

At youtube.com there was a new video published about week ago. It's not new (2005), but it is interesting to watch anyway. The festival where they played is called Big Chill. If you look carefully, you can see that every percussion player has his own cymbal. So, when the 'refrain' arrives they really find expression in it. I also like very original beginning and the solo(s) of the trombone player. Thing I don't like is saxophone solo. Not because of saxophone player, but because of missing tuba solo. I understand that present tuba player can't replace Nat Mcintosh just like that, but he could try anyway. Even these days, they still play Brooklyn without that tuba solo. What a pity!

Yesterday concert!

2007-08-29T23:53:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I went to Idrija castle to listen some great musicians. I wasn't disapointed. THIS is comment of TV (video).

Two great concerts with symphony orchestra Simfonika!

2007-08-29T23:40:00.000+02:00

Last week I played with Simfonika from Vrhnika again. On Saturday we played in Skofja Loka, on Sunday in Cerkno. We played many famous arias. Our special guest was Janez Lotric. He is world famous tenor opera singer. It was truly amazing! In both events there was about 2500 listeners. You can check the TV comment here (4MB) Second guest was Vera Mlejnik. She sang very well too. The conductor of Simfonika in Marko Fabiani, also the Associate Concertmaster of Symphony Orchestra RTV Slovenia. I think he is very good conductor and musician! Damijan Bogataj was the producer and organizer of these 2 successful concerts. I've played with Simfonika about 6 times before and I hope I will play there again. When someone will publish any good photos from the concert I will publish them too.

Marko Fabiani

Janez Lotric

Vera Mlejnik

Several concerts since last post...

2007-08-29T23:30:00.000+02:00

Hm... I must think a little bit...

Green Town Pleh Bend - concert in Bohinj (funny concert)

Wind band Idrija - funeral of trumpet player Ludvik Cibej
- playing for Slovene Liberation Front in Vojsko

Simfonika - Skofja Loka, Cerkno

Kar Ces Brass Band - Sebrelje picnic

Franci Vidmar Brass B. - Trnovšne picnic (Hahaha...)
Franci Vidmar Quartet - several (non)public rehersals (HAHAhaa...)

...and others

Comment of IYWO concert

2007-07-31T23:39:00.000+02:00

Dwayne Corbin

The International Youth Wind Orchestra (IYWO) was comprised of fifty students ranging in age from 18 to 25 from thirteen countries: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Estonia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK, and the USA. They were led by two conductors, Glenn Price from the University of Calgary, Canada, and Gerhard Markson, Principle Conductor of the RTÉ National Symphony in Dublin, Ireland. The choice of enlisting Markson was a strategic one of the WASBE board in order to build more connections between the wind ensemble “bubble” and the larger community of classical music.

The IYWO played remarkably. The repertoire presented was immensely challenging, and they had very little time to prepare it: just one week of rehearsals. The group sounded professional in all respects. I am certain that the students has a remarkable time working with two outstanding conductors, a world-famous soloist, and two composers, one of which was commissioned to write for the IYWO.

The highlight of the concert for me was Schwantner’s Percussion Concerto, transcribed for band by Andrew Boysen Jr., and performed by Dame Evelyn Glennie. I have heard this work before, but Glennie’s performance brought the piece to a new level through her commanding performance that clearly communicated the essence of the work. Through this she was able to connect the more unusual elements of the piece into a logical whole.

The piece has two elements that are most unusual for a concerto. First is the fact that the soloist plays from the back of the orchestra for the first and third movement, coming to the traditional front of stage for the second movement only. This, according to Glennie, was due to the fact that the work was composed for Christopher Lamb, principle percussionist for the New York Philharmonic. Schwantner wanted to showcase not just the soloist, but also how the soloist works within the section. This is the second unusual aspect of the work: the soloist often plays ensemble passages, whether unison mallet parts in the first movement, or simple triangle and metallic percussion gestures in the second movement. Glennie used stage lighting and tall risers in order to create a more vibrant back-stage solo area, as well as spot lights to highlight her movement from one set-up to another. She had purple lights on her second-movement set-up, which is musically more reflective. Her body language helped the audience understand how her parts fit in, as ensemble or solo passages. Glennie played with great passion, grace, and fire, including a lengthy cadenza on drums in the final movement, and the audience received her very well.

The other four pieces on the program suffered by comparison to the Schwantner and each other. The works were in many ways too similar: rhythmic, well-crafted, post-tonal color-oriented works that would sound refreshing next to Grainger, Ives, Maslanka, Mendelssohn, or pieces in other styles, but began to sound dull when programmed together. In addition, after all the excitement that Sir Simon Rattle generated by his fresh interpretations of Grainger wind works, I was hoping to see a similar event with Markson. However, Markson chose or was assigned three contemporary pieces, eliminating this possibility.

John Estacio’s Frenergy opened the concert, a fast energetic work that still retained a nice sense of melody and lightness. It was performed with pleasant character, and was precise technically.

Resonance, by Christopher Marshall, opened the second half. It is one of the many pieces commissioned by Tim and Hilary Reynish in memory of their son, William. The work employs a variety of styles and sounds: gentle passages, a street march, dark—almost eerie—melodies, then closes with a chorale from which most of the earlier sections were derived. A listener could see it as either oddly fragmented or as a refreshing post-modern work, mixing styles without necessarily ascribing value to them. This work definitely merits further listening and study.

Ian Wilson was present for the première of his work Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel. He gave a pre-concert talk where he discussed his experiences writing the piece, his first for wind ensemble. The work was inspired by and named after the moons of Uranus, whose individual characters shaped the form or compositional ideas for each movement. The result was a complex, thick piece, dense with counterpoint and disjointed melodies. It was highly dissonant, and was difficult to grasp in the first hearing. This work was rehearsed by Markson in an open rehearsal, where he stripped the opening down to each individual line. These sections made much more sense to the listener, leading me to believe that, while difficult at first, Wilson’s work might come alive through multiple exposures.

Richard Rodney Bennett’s Morning Music was the final piece on the concert. As with all of Bennett’s work, Morning Music is superbly orchestrated, contains interesting harmonic structures, and keeps the listener’s attention. This work, based on the poetry of Wordsworth, contains seven movements: a prelude, five variations, and a finale. The IYWO performed it wonderfully.

from wasbe.com

WASBE conference photos!!

2007-07-25T18:01:00.000+02:00

Here are some photos of me and people I've met in WASBE conference this month! I will write more about music in my next post. I met many more people, but I don't have photos of everyone. Here are just few...

Dennis Beck, me, Crystal Lee

Dennis Beck - Mr. Beck is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician, both in Canada and the United States. A chapter past president of Phi Beta Mu and a member of the College Band Directors National Association, he is also the Canadian chairman of the international Tri-M Honour Music Society. He served as a vice-president of the Alberta Band Association, was a founding director of the Ontario Band Association and is now the past president. His articles on music education have appeared in several professional journals including The Instrumentalist. He is a regular contributor to the highly regarded series of music texts, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, published by GIA in Chicago.
I've met Dennis on the train towards the Killarney. Amazing man, very kind, joker! I am so happy to know him!

Crystal Lee - Trombone player from Hong Kong. She was the first IYWO member I've met. Great girl!

Martin Ellerby, me, John Alden Stanley

Prof. John Stanley told me about WASBE conference about 2 years ago. He conducted our Idrija wind band, when we had 340 years anniversary. He conducted Irish tune from County Derry. He was the one and the first one who encouraged me for IYWO orchestra! We stayed in touch all the time. He is one of the greatest man I know!

Martin Ellerby, is a composer of international standing, whose works have been performed, broadcast and recorded to critical acclaim across Europe, Asia and the USA. His catalogue comprises compositions spanning a diverse range of media, including orchestral, choral, concert band, brass band, ballet, instrumental and chamber, together with a substantial number of commercial orchestrations and arrangements. Ellerby’s works are published extensively and recorded on over 75 commercial CDs to date. Key performances include the BBC Promenade Concerts, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Barbican Centre, Royal Albert Hall, South Bank Centre and many major international festivals, including Edinburgh, Harrogate, Zurich and Kuhmo Chamber Music ( Finland).
Amazing composer! He (actually John did) gave me his invaluable gift - Tuba concerto (Piano reduction). It means very much to me! He also wrote the dedication for me!

Me and Dr. Glenn D. Price

Glenn Price- Dr. Price has an international reputation as one of the leading conductors of his generation. An active conductor on the international scene, Price has conducted professional and student orchestras and wind ensembles through out North America as well as in Europe, the United Kingdom, South America, the Middle East and Asia. He is the appointed Artistic Director for the International Youth Wind Orchestra, conducts the IMC Concert Orchestra and serves as the Principal Conductor for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. In addition to his appearances as a conductor, Dr. Price serves extensively as a prominent music educator, clinician, guest lecturer and speaker for a variety of professional organizations around the world.
One of our two conductors! Great man!!!

Me and Timothy Reynish
Timothy Reynish (with his wife Hilary) - I'm without words! Legend!! http://www.timreynish.com

Me and composer Oliver Waespi.

Oliver Waespi, the composer, was born in Zurich/Switzerland in 1971 and studied composition at the Musikhochschule Zurich and the Royal Academy of music in London. He received several composition awards, including the International George Enescu Composition Prize for Symphonic Music in 2003. He is a SPNM-shortlisted composer. Recent performers of his works include soloists like Oliver Darbellay or Pedro Meireles, the London Sinfonietta, the Landesblasorhester Baden-Wurttemberg, the Sinfonisches Blasorchester Bern, the YBS Band of brass players of the RNCM (Manchester), the Berne Chamber Orchestra and many others in numerous countries.
I was extremly impressed by his 25 minutes long work "Temples" composed in 2007!!!

Me and Juan Guillermo Ramirez -
Yamaha sales & Marketing Manager and big musician from Panama. Great man!! He gave me 2 Yamaha T-shirts and some more stuff!!

Me and Humberto Pailos from Spain who plays an Euphonium. He is crazy with it!! One of best friends I've met in IYWO! We both like Guinness!

Me and Aaron Yong, extremly good tuba player from Singapour (IYWO member)!

My roomate Mateusz Lupinski from Poland. Almost an IYWO member :) Pssst...

Me and Antonio Lajara Angel - He is excellent clarinet player and conductor from Spain (IYWO member).

Me and Josh van der Maaten from USA. Very good IYWO trombone player!

Low brass section!(We drink the most!) Sergio Camargo Pardo (bass trombone) is great man and good friend from Columbia!

Me and Pink! (almost)

Girls from Pink concert, which happened near the conference place.

Being in Killarney

2007-07-11T01:13:00.000+02:00

I am currently in Ireland at WASBE conference! It is amazing!!! I will write news when I will come back!! And I will publish photos! Hear ya!

Mouthpiece - mouthpiece + lead pipe

2007-06-05T17:09:00.000+02:00

This is the sound comparison of mouthpiece only and with leadpipe added. It is described in few posts behind (link). I was using mouthpiece Perantucci PT-88, helicon Amati leadpipe, and a crap microphone. You can hear that playing with the leadpipe is easyer and tone is louder.

http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=153897

EDIT: Looks like it's something wrong with the link... I will try to repair it.

Liptrainer

2007-06-04T13:02:00.000+02:00

One of many things I saw at Musikmesse in Frankfurt was also a lips muscle trainer. Click on the first photo for details!! Anyway, I've decided not to order it, but to make it at home. So I took the kitchen ladle, I shaped it, added a little bigger female screw and elastics. See the end result at the photo!

I don't know if it's working like they say (read on first photo), because I don't use it yet. I will inform you with the results. It is probably more suggested for trumpet players, but I'm sure it's useful for us tuba players too.

Small tube on a bell!

2007-06-04T08:07:00.000+02:00

If you have a new instrument or if you simply don't have good feeling when you put your instrument on ground (with bell touching it), then you should put this small elastic tube on the bell. From a distance anyone can't even see it. I also don't think that it have any influence on the intonation (maybe it has for smaller brass). I suggest you buy diameter 5 - 7 milimeters, length 2 meters.

My tube on my tuba!

My Amati Bb (B-flat) helicon

2007-06-03T01:14:00.000+02:00

This is my helicon. I use it for playing in Kar Ces Brass Band and for playing marches in wind bands (instead of sousaphone). It has pretty good sound, although it's intonation is doubtful at the moments. The tuning slides (pipes, tubes) are quite rusted, so I will have to clean and fix it soon. Anyway it's about 35+ years old, so all kind of people played on it. If you are selling a brass sousaphone (not plastic!!), let me know!!

Successful concert with UPOL

2007-05-24T10:37:00.001+02:00

Yesterday we had a great concert with University Symphonic Winds Ljubljana. As described before, we played the Queen Symphony. Our preformance was good, and people were suprised with our sound.

Here are two photos from the concert:

And link to some other beautiful high resolution photos from the practice:
http://upol.mojforum.si/upol-about35.html

Photos of tuba & me and UPOL

2007-05-23T10:30:00.000+02:00

Photos by Robert Petric

Practicing with helicon leadpipe

2007-05-22T18:37:00.000+02:00

Tuba players usually don't like practicing with mouthpiece. I believe reason for that is the requirement to the huge amount of air (usually poor sound). Playing with smaller mouthpiece (ex. trumpet) is much louder and easier in that view. If you add lead pipe of helicon or sousaphone, these problems are suddenly reduced. I recommend it to everyone who doesn't have nerves to practice with mouthpiece only. If you do have nerves, you should continue with using only mouthpiece (you are forced to work harder).

I will publish the sound comparison (mouthpiece only and using lead pipe) later...

Pre-concert Queen Symphony!

2007-05-21T14:40:00.001+02:00

Tonight at 21.00 we will have a test pre-concert with UPOL. I will report about it tommorow or late tonight.

EDIT: I just came back home from the pre-concert. I think it will be good concert in Wednesday! If you will be in Ljubljana, come there to listen, it's free!

Hitchhiking with tuba

2007-05-21T14:10:00.000+02:00

In Friday I hitchhiked about 50 km with tuba. Actually that wasn't for the first time. I HH with tuba about 4 times before. It's not such a big problem at all. The driver must have free back-seats, and that is all. So, I rejected only one car. I believe that I could easily hitchhike through the Europe with tuba. All I would need is time. There is also a problem, if you don't want travel alone. Often there is not enough space for one more men.

Anyway, the other day I was at home before bus, saved 7€, meet few new people, had great time...

Playing with percussionist Evelyn Glennie

2007-05-21T00:13:00.000+02:00

In July we (IYWO) will play with world famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie. We will play Percussion Concerto by Joseph Schwantner (USA) - Schott-Helicon arr. Andrew Boysen. I am really proud to work with such people as Evelyn Glennie. It will be a great experience. I can't wait!!

Check also her homepage: http://www.evelyn.co.uk/

IYWO msn group!

2007-05-16T00:18:00.000+02:00

All members of the IYWO 2007 (Ireland), please join the our msn group!

http://groups.msn.com/IYWO2007

UPOL poster!

2007-05-15T00:19:00.000+02:00

A nice poster for our 'Queen Symphony' concert next week! I hope it will be a great concert. Come on and see!

Exams!

2007-05-11T10:46:00.000+02:00

Piano exam: 23.5.2007
Tuba exam: ~10.6.2007
Solffegio exam: 2.7.2007

Can't hardly wait...not!

Found on http://tubalion.blogspot.com/

main
{
if ( exams == over )
printf( "Play-time!" );
else
study;
}

Kar Ces Brass Band in Bovec?

2007-05-08T09:08:00.000+02:00

Wind band Eta Cerkno will have a over-week practice in Bovec. All the members of Kar Ces Brass Band except me are permanent members of that wind band. So I will probably go there too, to have some practice with our band. We will probably have a concert-party in Saturday at night. Come on and see! I will confirm it...

EDIT: We won't play there, because a few members are not avalible.

News!

2007-05-07T22:40:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I played with Medvode wind band. We were in Dolina in Trieste. It was a nice experience. We played mostly marches, but it was fun anyway. I played on sousaphone, which is in property of their band (Yamaha). Usually I play on helicon, so it was a little bit different this time. Firstly it has 3 pistons and not 4. Sound is also different (bursting, plastic) and directed in other direction. Second piston also did not run clearly, so it was a little 'harder' to play. Unrenewed homepage, but anyway link: http://www.godba-medvode.si/

In previous post I wrote about Morricone. It is a very big coincidence, that we (Wind band Idrija) will play the soundtrack right from that movie (Once upon the...). The title is A moment for Morricone, arr. Johan de Mej. There are two themes from the movie. You can listen one in previous post, the other one is more slowly and with vocal. Our vocal will be a Elvira Hasanagic. She is a very good sopran vocal and she is from Idrija. I think she will be perfect for that song. We will play it at the opening of the Lace Festival on 22/07/07.
Check who is Elvira Hasanagic and Andrej Lazar in video from concert in December 2005! (Con te partiro) http://tv.isg.si/site/ftpaccess/carli/gdri-bozic.avi

Next weekend I'm going to Komen (near Italy) to intensively exercises for University Symphonic Winds. We will have a concert on 23/05/07 in the hall of FDV faculty. We'll play Queen Symphony. http://www.newbeats.com/kashifinterview.html
Everyone invited!

Power of Morricone!

2007-04-25T16:29:00.000+02:00

This is a final shooting in movie Once upon a time in the West. It is really a great combination of music and video (specially at the beggining!). Must see! I really love this spirit of Ennio Morricone!

Youngblood brass band live

2007-04-24T17:53:00.000+02:00

There I found only a month old video from a concert in Paris. It's not great in quality, but check out the interpretation of music and also the response of the audience... Like Garrincha003 commented it: And i missed it !

Edit: I loveee the first solo of the trombone player!! Only thing I don't like is the high octave of tuba player at the moments. He should do that only once. (just thinking on loud) :)

Orkester kamp Izola 2007

2007-04-23T21:25:00.000+02:00

In August (27.7-31.7) there will be a band camp in Izola - Slovenia (And this one time, at band camp,...). :) Special guest will be the most famous euphonium player Steven Mead. There will be also an orchestra set, that will play the newest repertoire.

Other mentors will be:

Dušan Sodja

Betka Kotnik (saxophones)

David Špec (trumpets)

Jože Bogolin

Matej Krajter (low brass)

Simon Perčič (conductor)

I don't know if I'll be there, because I'll be probably in Spain that time. We'll see.

Above Idrija

2007-04-23T20:59:00.000+02:00

Here is one more photo from the 'video recording' day. It's not much from the quality (mobile phone), but I've posted it anyway. It was a great position for recording the picture!

Krka wind orchestra won't visit WASBE 2007?

2007-04-18T17:18:00.000+02:00

At first I was really exited when I found out, that I will meet many friends from Krka orchestra in Ireland in July, but now they canceled their concert there. What is reason for that I don't know. I am really sad about that. Well I guess I will have to have more fun with foreign people :)

Edit: This is the second orchestra in Slovenia, which canceled their elite concert at WASBE confference. In 2003, when conff. was in Sweden the same thing did the Trbovlje wind band (finnancial reasons). I must say; great commercial for Slovenia! Bravo!

Recording the marches!

2007-04-18T09:49:00.000+02:00

Previous weekend passed in the spirit of marches. In Saturday we recorded the audio (7-8 marches). Next day we recorded video (photos). We worked hard, but it was really interesting and useful for our wind band. You can watch the 1st programme of TV Slovenia on 1st May in the morning and you will see, what we were doing all weekend. All of the marches are really unique and interesting. I will upload the mp3-s as soon as I get them.

Daily Intellectual Training (DIT)

2007-04-12T23:32:00.000+02:00

The D.I.T. is a device, which is set on a mouthpiece. This device enables us to direct the airstream either through an instrument or past an instrument. When the airstream goes through an instrument, it is the instrument that makes a sound and when it goes past an instrument, it is the mouthpiece that makes a sound, but there are also states between the two possibilities. When the airstream goes through an instrument and the D.I.T. is in its open position, we deal with normal brass playing as we have known it up till now. In all the other positions we come upon something that is completely new.

I use DIT and I can tell you that is really interesting stuff. But you must have a lot of nerves to work with it. You must persist with it and not give up!

You can check more info here: http://www.dit.si/

Regular jogging for musicians!

2007-04-11T18:12:00.000+02:00

Every brass/wood wind player should run as often as possible! For example, if I don't feel good for playing my tuba (weak, lazy...), I simply go running (upwards if possible) for minimal 20 minutes. When I come back to my tuba, I can notice incomparable difference. Tone is much richer, legato playing is great, every fast note is played well...
I suggest this to everyone, who wants to play better!

Working Easter Saturday!

2007-04-08T18:23:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was really interesting day! At 10.00 AM wind band Idrija had the course of marching. It was great experience for everyone of us. We will have a video (and music) recording next week, so we'll have to march decently. We'll be presented on national television (1/5/2007). By the way, I march with an old helicon Amati (great sound).
Later on, I went to Cerkno to have a practice with KCBB. We will have to work hard until next concert.
At about 10.00 PM we started to play with our sextet (previous post). We played good. People who were passing by, were impressed. It was a great experience. I will post photos as soon as I get them.

Playing on Easter night!

2007-04-03T15:16:00.000+02:00

On Saturday night, we will play at the church procession in Idrija. This will be the first public appearance of our new sextet (tuba, trombone, euphonium, 3 trumpets). All the members are also a members of Wind brass band Idrija. We will be set near the main square in Idrija, where the procession will be passing by. We will play about 5 songs.
Uff, I love new formed bands!!